Religion Today Summaries – Jan. 4, 2007
Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
In today's edition:
- S.T.O.P., not S.L.O.W., is Key to Ending HIV/AIDS, Warren Says
- University of Wisconsin System's Growing Anti-Christian Reputation
- Why Many Palestinians Mourn Saddam Hussein
- Report: 51 Priests in Same-Sex Civil Partnerships
S.T.O.P., not S.L.O.W., is Key to Ending HIV/AIDS, Warren Says
Only the church has the authority to completely eradicate AIDS, said Rick Warren during the 2006 Urbana Student Missions Conference, Dec. 27-31 in St. Louis, Baptist Press reports. “Even if we had drugs for everybody today, if we had a cure for everybody today, we could not get it to the people without [the help of] the churches. It’s not going to happen,” Warren said. Because of its unique influence and spiritual mandate, Warren said the church should play a leading role in stopping AIDS. “There is a component that only the church has the authority to deal with,” he said. “When I hear non-church people talking about AIDS, the things they are dealing with will slow it, but it will not stop it.” Recapping the four most popular secular methods to combating AIDS using the acrostic “SLOW,” Warren said the S stands for supply condoms; the L in SLOW stands for limiting the number of partners; the O is offer needle exchange; the W is wait for the first onset of sex. “Those are the four most popular methods to AIDS prevention, and they will work to a degree,” he said. “But if you want to stop it, now you have to bring in the church.” Warren proposed a new acrostic: “STOP.” “S is save sex for marriage; T is teach men to respect women and children; O is to offer treatment through churches; P is pledge yourself to one partner for life.”
Christian Consultant Helps Business Owners Build Wealth, Become Givers
AgapePress reports that a Christian businessman from Texas is helping people create new business opportunities and then enabling and encouraging the entrepreneurs he assists to share their success with others. In 1996, Gary Findley joined the team of Curves Fitness Centers, which had three locations. When he left in 2005, the business had more than 8,000 locations worldwide. And now the gifted businessman has launched The Findley Group, a franchise consulting firm based in Waco, Texas. Findley considers his business a ministry. "When we started this company, my wife and I, we really had a couple of goals," he explains. "Those goals are real simple: to create wealth for other people and to give money away." In other words, the businessman says, he wants to help others succeed with their businesses and then teach them how to use their success to help fund other Christian ministries and causes.
Why Many Palestinians Mourn Saddam Hussein
Palestinians are among those who mourned the death of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein this past weekend, AgapePress reports. According to some analysts, one of the key reasons Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza held Hussein in such regard is because of the generous financial support the former Iraqi dictator gave them for terrorist attacks against the Jews. Reportedly, Saddam sent $25,000 to the families of each homicide bomber that blew himself up in an effort to kill and maim as many Jews as possible, and also offered $10,000 to the families of each Palestinian killed in fighting. That blood money, according to Associated Press assessments, totaled an estimated $35 million. Also, during the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam attacked Israel in a failed ploy to force his Arab allies to abandon the United States-led coalition arrayed against him and join Iraq in fighting the Jewish State. Over the past weekend, Palestinians referred to Hussein's execution as martyrdom and held parades and other gatherings to honor the mass murderer.
Report: 51 Priests in Same-Sex Civil Partnerships
A report claiming at least 51 priests are in same-sex civil partnerships will confront the Church of England at two major upcoming meetings, says a report from WorldNetDaily. The figures, which include four lesbian priests, come from a homosexual-rights group comprised of church members called Changing Attitude. Next month, proponents of homosexuals in the clergy will face two significant challenges: Traditionalists say they will force an open debate at the General Synod meeting. And in Tanzania, the Archbishop of Canterbury likely will face criticism from leaders of the worldwide Anglican Communion to address division in the church caused by the ordination of Episcopal homosexual priest Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.
Originally published January 04, 2007.
